Seam guide



April 2, 1940. F. M. DARNER SEAM GUIDE Filed Jan. 15, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS mama Apr. 2, 1940' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAM GUIDE NW Jello! Application January 13, 1939, Serial No. 250,301

5 Claims.

This invention relates to tube or pipe welding machinery and more particularly to an improved seam guide for positioning the open seam of the r unwelded tube just prior to its entry into the welding section of an electric welding machine. I

Scam guide devices have been proposed and used in this art which comprise an elongated blade or fin which extends into the open seam of the unwelded tube and it is among the objects of my invention to provide a fin or blade type seam guide and mounting therefor whereby the guide will accurately and positively position the scam.

Other objects of my invention are the provision of a seam guide which is readily adaptable to various sizes of tube; the provision of a seam guide which may be easily adjusted to shift the position of the seam during operation of the welder; the provision of scam guide mechanism having easily operated controls whereby a plurality of different movements may be imparted to the tube and the seam guide blade while the tube is either moving or stationary.

The above and other objects of myinvention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my seam guide mechanism. a

Figure 2 is an end elevation taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the center of the tube supporting and guiding rolls, taken on line 3-3 of Figure l.

Fi8ure 4 is a side elevation of the operating side of the device taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the blade holding mechanism taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertic l cross-sectional view show- 40 ing the vertical adjusting means for the seam guide blade taken on line 8-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 'l| of Figures 1 and 6.

r Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line H of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a detached plan view of the vertically adjustable slide support for the seam guide blade.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of Figure 9.

The base or frame i is stationary and may be supported in any suitable manner (not shown) preferably just ahead of the welding section of an electrical tube or pipe welding machine. The

; tube, which comes to the seam guide from the 5 formingsectioaisshownatiinrigurez. Rolls (CI. 21H) 3 and I, having vertical axes. engage the tube and prevent it from moving laterally or vertically as it passes through the seam guide device. The seam guide proper comprises an elongated blade or fin 5 which extends down into the open seam 5 of the tube 2. As is indicated in Figures 4 and 5, this blade 5 is preferably tapered at both its entering and exit ends and may, of course, vary in thickness depending upon the size of the tubing being handled.

In order to provide a seam guide which will meet all of the conditions encountered in operation I haveprovided a number of different adjustments for the rolls 3 and l and the blade 5. The operation of my seam guide can probably best be understood by describing each of these adjustment mechanisms separately, although it will be observed that all of the adjustment mechanisms cooperate to provide a structure which will fulfill the varying conditions met in the operation of tube welding machines.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 3, the rolls 3 and I are mounted on vertical shafts O and I respectively. The shaft 6 is journalled at its lower end in a sliding roll supporting bracket 8 and at its upper end in a projecting cap I which is secured to the bracket 8 as by screws ll. As is seen in Figure 6 the bracket 8 is supported in a slideway II in the main base or frame I, suitable plates or straps I2 and it being employed to hold the bracket in position and complete the track therefor. A feed screw H engages a threaded aperture IS in the bracket 8 and extends through the upwardlyextending end flange ll of thebase I. Collars i1 and I! are secured to the feed screw I on either side of the flange i6 and prevent axial movement of the screw ll relative to the base i. The screw ll does not have threaded engagement with the flange Ii.

It will be seen from the above description that when the screw I4 is rotated the bracket I, together with the roll 3 supported thereby, will be moved toward or away from the normal center line C of the tube. The roll 4 is supported in an exactly similar manner on a sliding bracket is which is engaged by a feed screw 20, of opposite hand from the feed screw II. This feed screw 20, as is seen in Figures 1 and 4, extends through an upwardly extending flange 2| on the oppositeend of the base I from the flange l6. Collars 21 and 23 are secured to the screw it on opposite sides of the flange 2i and prevent axial movement of the shaft in the same manner that the collars l1 and I! prevent axial movement ofthe screw ll.

1 the brachets 3 t, will b to so rot ted a gear l of the screw it and a gear 25 o end of the screw These gear cured to a shaft 28 (see 2} having SQLEQZ end 28 to accom lodate a wrench or the Theshaft 2i? passes through and has a beer 3 in the upwardly extending flange 2t and extends entirely across the base i and. has another hear ing in the bracket l6. By rotathig the shaft the rolls land their supporthig housings simultaneously are moved toward or away i'rc each other and toward or away from the center line or" the tube, the direction of movement de pending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft Having described the roll supports and means for adjusting the rolls toward and away from. each'other, it will now be in order to describe the support for the seam guide blade and the means for adjusting the blade independently of and relative to the rolls 3 and As is best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the blade 5 is clamp-ed be tween elongated gripping members 29 and 3G bolts 30 and this assembly is sec ed to a lon gitudinally slidable blade support ill by a clamping bar-52 and two suitable bolts 33 which extend through horizontally extending elongated slots 36' in the slide 3&- (see Figs. 9 and 101'. The blade support with the blade 5, grippers 2S and 3G and clamp bar is mounted on the vertically adjustable slide member 34 for slidable movement in a direction parallel to the tube axis. This arrangement is clearly seen in Figure 5, it being noted that the blade support 3! has a grooved leg 35 which engages a corresponding portion of the adjustable slide 34 and a removable top piece 533 which engages the upper edge of the member 3t. ihe bolts 33 pass through vertical slots 33' gear engages the rack 38 and is secured to and rotatable with a shaft 40 carried by the blade supporting member 3|. The cover plate 36 and the support 3i are bored to provide a bearing for the shaft 40. The end of shaft 40 is preferably squared as at 40' to accommodate an operating wrench and, when the shaft 40 is rotated, the

gear 39 and the support 3|, together with the blade 5, will be moved longitudinally relative to the rack 38 and the frame I of the machine in a direction parallel to the tube axis. When it is desired to operate the gear 38 and move the blade lengthwise the bolts 33 are released. This also permits the angle of blade 5 to be adjusted as the clamp 32 and blade assembly 5, 23 and 30 are provided with vertical slots 33' through which the bolts 33 pass. After the blade is placed in the desired adjusted position the bolts 33 are tightened to lock the blade supporting assembly in position.

The slldeway support member 34 has a pair of downwardly extending legs 4| and 42 which have sliding fits in upwardly extending O-section channels 43 and 44. These channels are a part of the yoke member, generally indicated at 43,

arouses and 27 have threaded l rdly extending legs J. respectively, and, are supported in Cf. and $3 in the yoke member 45. As igure I, a, worm gear 50 is keyed to the end of the screw shaft 46 and engages a worm 5! on the transverse shaft '32. The gears U'iand l'il are enclosed in, and the shaft 52 is supported by, a box-like housing 53 which may be secured to the yoke 45 by screw 54. A worm gear (not shown in the drawings, but entirely similar to worm gear 56) is secured in similar manner to the lower end of the screw shaft 41. This worm gear engages a worm 55 carried by shaft 52 and the gear drive ior the screw 4'. is enclosed in a b x 56 which is similar to the box It will be seen that when the shaft 52 is ro tated the screws and i! will be turned, thus lifting or lowering the slide member 34 together with the seam guide blade assembly. Rotation of the shaft 52 is eifected through a bevel gear mounted on the shaft 52 which engages a el gear carried on the end of a shaft '59. bearing 55 for the inner end of shaft 59 is carried by a bracket 66 which is attached to the box 56. The shaft 59 passes freely through the webs G2 and 53 of the base i, and, as is seen in Figure 2, has a sliding bearing adjacent its outer end in the upwardly extending flange 2i. The outer end of the shaft 59 is preferably squared as seen at E4 to accommodate an operating wrench or handle.

The entire blade supporting and operating mechanism is mounted on and carried by the yoke 45 which has a central opening 85 (see Fig. l) and which comprises end members 45' and 45 and sides 45 and 45 The side rails 45 and 45 are slldingly mounted upon the base 5, plates 66 and 61 being employed to complete the track or guideway in the frame 1. The entire yoke 45, together with the blade 5 and its supporting and operating mechanism, may be moved transversely of the tube path by means of the adjusting screw 63 which has threaded engagement in the end portion 45 of the yoke 45 (see Flg. 8). The screw 88 has a bearing in the bracket 2 l and is prevented from axial movement by collars 69 and 10. The squared end H of the operating screw 38 accommodates an oper- -atlng wrench or handle in well known manner, and it will be observed that when the screw 68 is rotated the frame or yoke 45 will slide upon the base I, moving transversely the blade 5 and its lifting and lowering mechanism. This ad justment can be effected while the tube is stationary or passing through the machine and serves to move the open seam of the tube toward one or the other of the guiding rolls 3 and 4.

As has been previously explained, the rolls 3 and '4 may be moved toward and away from each other on the frame I and the blade 5 may be vertically lifted or lowered in its support upon the yoke 43. Thus, if it is desired to accommodate tubes of din'erent diameters, the roll shafts 3 and 1 may be spaced to accommodate rolls grooved for tubing of any desired size within the range of the machine. The blade 5 may be lifted to accommodate a larger tube or lowered to properly engage a smaller diameter tube and, in order to insure that the open seam of the tube is delivered to the welding section of the machine in the proper position, the blade 5 maybe shifted 'tive to the supporting rolls 3 and l.

laterally, thus, in eiiect, twisting the tube relav All of the adjustments noted are made by turning the three shafts 28, i0 and 59, the operating ends of which are conveniently grouped on the same side of the machine. o

Therollslandlmayquicklyandeasilybe changed by merely moving the brackets l and IQ apart, removing the cover plates which support the upper ends of the roll shafts l and I, and lifting on the rolls. It is not necessary to remove or inany way bie the seam guide supporting mechanism to change rolls and the advantage 0! this ieature 0! my invention will be readily appreciated.

Although I have described the illustrated embodiment 01' my invention in considerable detail, itwilibeunderstoodbythoseskilledintheart that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the speciilc iormoi n v improved seam guide apparatus and I do not, therefore,

Wish to be limited to the particular embodiment, shown in the accompanying drawings. but claim all forms thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A seam guide of the type described comprising a base, a pair of roll supporting brackets mounted on said base for sliding movement toyoke for supporting and vertically moving said blade, each oi said roll bracket moving means, yoke moving means, and blade moving means including an operating member extending out on the same side 0! said base.

8.Inapparatusoi'theclass,abase having a pair of wide tracks extending transversely thereof and a pair of narrow tracks extending parallel to and between said wide tracks, a pair of independently movable roll supporting brackets mounted on said narrow tracks, a. yoke member encompassing said roll brackets and mounted on said wide tracks, means on said base for simultaneously moving said roll brackets toward or away from each other on said narrow tracks, means on said base for moving said yoke on said wide tracks, a pair of rolls carried on said roll brackets, and a seam guide member carried by said yoke. w

4. apparatus oi the class described. a base having a pair of wide trach extending transverseiy thereof and a pair of narrow track extending parallel to and between said wide tracks. a pair of independently movable roll-supporting brackets mounted on said narrow tracks, a yoke member encom said roll brackets and moimted on said wide tracks, means on said base for simultaneuosly moving said roll brackets toward or away from each other on said narrow ward and away from each other, rolls rotatably 7 tracks. means on said base-for moving said yoke so mounted on said brackets. means for simultaneously moving said brackets and rolls toward or away from each other, a yoke member slidably moimted on said base and having a central opening, said roll supporting brackets being disposed within said opening, means for moving said yoke on said base in a direction parallel to the movement of said roll brackets and independently of said roll brackets, a seam guide blade. and means carried by and movable with said yoke ior supporting and vertically moving said blade.

"2. A seam guide of the type described comprising a base, a pair 0! roll-supporting brackets mounted on said base for sliding movement toward and away from each other, rolls rotatably mounted on said brackets, means ior simultaneously moving said brackets-and rolls towardv or away from each other, a yoke member slid within said opening, means for moving yokeonsaidbaseinadirectionparallelto onsaidwidetrackaapairotrollscarriedon said roll brackets, and a seam guide member carried by said yoke and disposed between said rolls, said seam guide member being adjustable vertically and longitudinally on saidyoke.

5. In apparatus of the.class described, a base having a pair of wide tracks extending transverselythereoiandapairoinarrowtracksextending parallel to and between said wide tracks, a pair of independently movable roll-supporting brackets mounted on said narrow tracks, a yoke member encom said roll brackets and mounted on said wide tracks, means on said base for simultaneously moving said roll bracket toward or away from each other on said narrow tracks, means on said base for moving said yoke onsaidwidetrackaapairotrollscarriedon said roll brackets, a seam guide member carried by said yoke, a support for said guide member moimted in vertical slides on said yoke, and means carried by said yoke and movable theremm vertically moving said support in said mmarcnnaam 

